Delosperma plant named ‘P15R1’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Delosperma plant named ‘P15R1’ that is characterized by its low-growing plant habit, its long blooming period and its flowers that are bright purple in color with white centers.

Botanical classification: Delosperma nubigenum.

Variety denomination: ‘P15R1’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Plant Patents derived from the same breeding program that are entitled Delosperma Plant Named ‘WOWDRW5’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,572) and Delosperma Plant Named ‘DSAB13-1’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,065). This application claims priority to European Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) Plant Breeder's Rights Application No. 2019/0938 filed on Apr. 12, 2019, the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Delosperma plant, botanically known as Delosperma nubigenum ‘P15R1’ and will be referred to hereinafter by its cultivar name, ‘P15R1’. The new cultivar of Delosperma is an herbaceous perennial grown for container and landscape use.

The new cultivar in Ichinimiya-City, Aichi-Pref, Japan. The overall purpose of the breeding program was to develop new cultivars of Delosperma plants with low-growing and well-spreading growth habits combined with long flowering periods and a unique range of flower colors.

‘P15R1’ arose from crosses made by the Inventor between unnamed and unpatented proprietary plants of Delosperma nubigenum from his breeding program. Seeds were pooled from the crosses and therefore the exact parentage is unknown. ‘P15R1’ was selected in May of 2014 as a single unique plant amongst the resulting seedlings.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings in September of 2014 by the Inventor in Ichinimiya-City, Aichi-Pref, Japan. Propagation by stem cuttings has shown that the unique features of the new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘P15R1’ as a unique cultivar of Delosperma.

-   -   1. ‘P15R1’ exhibits a low-growing plant habit.     -   2. ‘P15R1’ exhibits a long blooming period.     -   3. ‘P15R1’ exhibits flowers that are bright purple in color with         white centers.

‘P15R1’ can be most closely compared to Delosperma cooperi cultivars ‘WOWDRW5’ and ‘DSAB13-1’. ‘WOWDRW5’ and ‘DSAB13-1’ are similar to ‘P15R1’ in having flowers that are purple in color. ‘WOWDRW5’ differs from ‘P15R1’ in having flowers that are lighter purple in color, less petals and larger white centers. ‘DSAB13-1’ differs from ‘P15R1’ in having smaller flowers and smaller white centers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Delosperma. The photographs were taken of a 2-liter container planted with 5 plants that were 3 months in age as grown in an unheated greenhouse in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘P15R1’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a flower of ‘P15R1’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the foliage of ‘P15R1’.

The colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Delosperma.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of 2-liter containers planted with 5 plants that were 3 months in age as grown in an unheated greenhouse in Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Late spring to late summer in             Noordwijkerhout, The Netherlands.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant habit.—Compact, well-spreading, prostrate.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 9.2 cm in height and 12.4             cm in diameter.         -   Cold hardiness.—Observed to be hardy in U.S.D.A. Zones 7 to             12.         -   Diseases and pests.—No susceptibility to resistance to             diseases or pests has been observed.         -   Root description.—Fibrous roots, 162C in color.         -   Propagation.—Stem cuttings.         -   Growth habit.—Moderately vigorous.         -   Root development.—Roots initiate and fill a 104-cell plug in             3 weeks and the planted plugs fully develop in 9-cm             container within 6 weeks. -   Stem description:     -   -   Shape.—Rounded.         -   Stem color.—Young and mature stems; upper surface 182B,             lower surface 144B, internodes; upper surface 181A, lower             surface 144B to 144C.         -   Stem size.—Lateral branches; an average of 5.2 cm in length             and 3 mm in diameter.         -   Internode length.—An average of 1.8 cm.         -   Stem texture.—Succulent.         -   Stem surface.—Slightly glossy, densely covered with very             small glands, average length 0.2 mm, transparent and             matching surface color.         -   Stem aspect.—Held in an average angle of 75° (varying             between 60° and 90°).         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with main branches and             lateral branches. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Ligulate, triangular.         -   Leaf substance.—Succulent; an average of 4 mm in thickness.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Leaf venation.—No veins visible.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Leaf aspect.—Slightly curved.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Leaf surface.—Both surfaces smooth, moderately glossy and             densely covered with very short glandular hairs, <0.2 mm in             length, transparent and matching surface color.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; 146B, young lower surface             143A, mature upper surface 146A, mature lower surface 143A.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 4.9 cm in length and 5 mm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—Average of 6 (3 pairs) per lateral branch.         -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Flowers solitary on terminus and             axillary nodes.         -   Flower number.—An average of 2 flowers and 14 buds per             plant.         -   Flower fragrance.—Faint, sweet and pleasant.         -   Flower aspect.—Upright to slightly outward.         -   Flower longevity.—Average of 10 days, persistent.         -   Flower type.—Single, rotate.         -   Flower size.—Average of 3.6 cm in height and diameter and             3.6 cm in depth.         -   Flower buds.—Ovate in shape, an average of 0.8 cm in length             and 0.45 cm in diameter, 138A in color, base 144B in color,             surface is slightly glossy and densely covered with very             short glandular hairs an average of 0.2 mm in length,             transparent and matching surface color.         -   Calyx.—Rotate in shape, average of 1.0 cm (including ovary)             in length and 2.6 cm in width.         -   Sepals.—Average 5, rotate, narrowly ovate to lanceolate in             shape, margin entire, an average of 1 cm in length and 0.3             cm in width, bluntly acute apex, broadly cuneate base, Both             surfaces smooth, moderately glossy and densely covered with             very short glandular hairs, average of less than 0.2 mm in             length, transparent and matching surface color, color; when             opening upper surface 146A, when opening lower surface a             color between 143A and 146B, fully open upper surface 146B,             fully open lower surface 143A and 146B.         -   Petals.—An average of 70 per flower, rotate, average of 2             whorls lower row an average of 50, upper row an average of             20, upper petal row; average of 6 mm in length, 0.5 mm in             width, linear in shape, apex narrow acute, base narrowly             cuneate, margin entire, glabrous and velvety surface, color;             when opening and fully open upper and lower surface 155D,             apex N66D, lower petal row; average of 1.6 cm in length, 2             mm in width, narrow oblanceolate in shape, apex obtuse, base             narrowly cuneate, margin entire, glabrous and velvety             surface, color; when opening upper surface N74A, changing to             NN155D at the base, when opening lower surface NN74A,             changing to NN155D at the base, when fully open upper             surface NN74A changing to NN155D at the base, when fully             open lower surface NN74B, changing to NN155D at the base.         -   Petaloids.—None present.         -   Peduncle.—Average of 1.5 cm in length and 0.2 cm in             diameter, held straight on top of lateral branch at an             average of 45°, upper surface color 178C, lower surface             color 152B surface slightly to moderately glossy, moderately             strong in strength, surfaces are slightly to moderately             glossy and densely covered with very small glands average of             0.2 mm in length, transparent and matching surface color.         -   Pedicel.—None present. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistils.—Average of 5, style; an average of 2 mm in length             and 143B in color, stigma; deltoid in shape, an average of 3             mm in length and 1 mm in diameter, N144B in color, ovary;             144B in color.         -   Stamens.—Average 60, anthers; basifixed and oblong in shape,             an average of 0.75 mm in length and 0.3 mm in width, 156D in             color, filaments; 4 mm in length and 157D in color, pollen;             moderate in quantity and 12A in color.         -   Fruit/seed.—Fruit and seed production has not been observed             to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Delosperma plant named ‘P15R1’ as described and illustrated herein. 